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A Time for Empathy.
Author: Raine    Date: 2013-07-19 12:11:48

We are fast hurtling towards a world where empathy is considered a bad thing. In the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin George Zimmerman trial, there are those among us that justify the verdict with claims such as:

It's not that simple;
Zimmerman was acting in self defense;
Trayvon wasn't really innocent;
It wasn't about race;
This is our justice system;
It can't be proven.

There are many more claims out there as to what happened with regard to this trial and its outcome. A bigger broader picture is becoming more and more clear to me: we are becoming a nation where a simple act of empathy is not enough to placate those that refuse to see the racism that exists in our nation. For some, there is no room to stop and ponder something that makes them feel uncomfortable. There is an increasing position that to at least TRY to put one's self into another person's shoes is a sign of weakness. Empathy:
Empathy is the experience of understanding another person's condition from their perspective. You place yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling. Empathy is known to increase prosocial (helping) behaviors. While American culture might be socializing people into becoming more individualistic rather than empathic, research has uncovered the existence of "mirror neurons," which react to emotions expressed by others and then reproduce them.


A lack of empathy makes us meaner, colder and more callous. It makes us less caring to the plight of others. It makes us selfish. It makes us close-minded and it makes us short-sighted.

Here is all I need to know: Trayvon Martin is dead and he didn't have to die. No justification in the world can change that. My heart hurts not just for his family and loved ones, but it hurts for everyone who knows the reality of what happened that evening in Sanford, Florida. Arguing semantics with those that have little or no empathy is useless. Only they can live with themselves and what is in their heart.

I can never understand, but what I can identify with allows me to be empathetic. I never want to be so jaded that I can't feel or identify with the plight of other people. Empathy doesn't make me weak. It doesn't make me a lesser person. It makes me a caring person that simply cannot justify a teen's death as easily as some can. I posted this image the other night, it's worth another look.

These kids get it:



I pray they never lose the wisdom and the empathy that they have.

I was once 17. I was smart-mouthed and reckless. I was bullied. I wasn't always kind to others. I did things that were illegal. There were times when I was downright shitty. I was 17 and believed I knew it all.

I had something else: I had the chance to grow out of t. I was able to use my experiences to not only make better choices but to have empathy for others who would later be in the shoes that I wore.

The most important thing I had was time. I made it through, I grew up. I've lived thru joy and darkness. I married and divorced and found the love of my life. I had time.

I had time to not become meaner, colder, more callous and selfish. I had time to learn and live. I refuse to give up empathy for other people. I refuse.

I have no time for a lack of empathy.

and
Raine
 

59 comments (Latest Comment: 07/20/2013 13:47:24 by clintster)
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Comment by Raine on 07/19/2013 12:42:19
good morning!

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 12:52:34
it has been a tumultuous week and this song reminds me that there is lots of work to do on so many fronts



Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 12:59:59
Comment by trojanrabbit on 07/19/2013 13:00:36
For the first time in its 40 year operating history Plymouth's Pilgrim Nuclear Plant forced to throttle back to 85% power because the cooling water from Cape Cod Bay is too warm.

Nope.....no problem....

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 13:01:36



I really, really, really like number 9!

Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 13:05:31
Morning


I love those kids!


I think I'm the only one that watches Big Brother but I think this kind of ties in with today's blog in its context of empathy and racism Big Brother Becomes Lab Experiment in Overt Racism I generally like to watch the show for the stupid drama and to watch how people interact with each other, but I was not prepared for this season. Julie Chen is also not happy about this, she hosts the show. She's made some pointed comments that seem to fly over some contestants heads during live interviews. I kind of can't wait till she gets to do the exit interview with some of these people.

Comment by Raine on 07/19/2013 13:12:37
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning


I love those kids!


I think I'm the only one that watches Big Brother but I think this kind of ties in with today's blog in its context of empathy and racism Big Brother Becomes Lab Experiment in Overt Racism I generally like to watch the show for the stupid drama and to watch how people interact with each other, but I was not prepared for this season. Julie Chen is also not happy about this, she hosts the show. She's made some pointed comments that seem to fly over some contestants heads during live interviews. I kind of can't wait till she gets to do the exit interview with some of these people.
I don't even know what to make of the show at this point. It's frightening to see such overtness going on.


Comment by Raine on 07/19/2013 13:14:02
Quote by Mondobubba:



I really, really, really like number 9!

I do too!

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 13:19:20
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:



I really, really, really like number 9!

I do too!



We just don't dislike Rick Scott, we despise Rick Scott.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 13:24:25
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning


I love those kids!


I think I'm the only one that watches Big Brother but I think this kind of ties in with today's blog in its context of empathy and racism Big Brother Becomes Lab Experiment in Overt Racism I generally like to watch the show for the stupid drama and to watch how people interact with each other, but I was not prepared for this season. Julie Chen is also not happy about this, she hosts the show. She's made some pointed comments that seem to fly over some contestants heads during live interviews. I kind of can't wait till she gets to do the exit interview with some of these people.
I don't even know what to make of the show at this point. It's frightening to see such overtness going on.


you know its not a bad thing to have the discussion, I'm glad they aren't hiding it like I think they were going to, something tells me Julie Chen had a lot to do with that (she is not happy, but she was a total professional when TMZ caught her and her hubby coming out of a restaurant).

Its really sad that there a still people who act like this when you compare her with those amazing kids who react to a Cheerios commercial. Its also incredibly sad that the girls who are doing it don't even see what they are doing.


Comment by Raine on 07/19/2013 13:27:50
Mondo -- did you watch Sharknado?

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 13:29:06
You know yesterday was Nelson Madela's 95th birthday. I reflected on that for some minutes on my way to work yestermorn. Yes, standing on a long line of people in front of the South African embassy in the mid-80s chanting "Ban, ban the Kruger Rand" was totally worth it.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 13:29:45
Quote by Raine:
Mondo -- did you watch Sharknado?



YES! It was teh awesome!

Comment by Raine on 07/19/2013 13:31:48
Quote by wickedpam: Its also incredibly sad that the girls who are doing it don't even see what they are doing.

^^^^ THIS ^^^^



This is why these things still happen -- It's a lack of awareness. I know we are all guilty of not realizing things from time to time, it just a human nature thing. That said when it is pointed out at least for myself, I try to reflect upon it.

Comment by BobR on 07/19/2013 13:32:49
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning


I love those kids!


I think I'm the only one that watches Big Brother but I think this kind of ties in with today's blog in its context of empathy and racism Big Brother Becomes Lab Experiment in Overt Racism I generally like to watch the show for the stupid drama and to watch how people interact with each other, but I was not prepared for this season. Julie Chen is also not happy about this, she hosts the show. She's made some pointed comments that seem to fly over some contestants heads during live interviews. I kind of can't wait till she gets to do the exit interview with some of these people.

Interesting that the bigots names are "Aaryn" (which is almost Aryan) and "Zimmerman"

Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 13:34:02
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Mondo -- did you watch Sharknado?



YES! It was teh awesome!



Did you follow it on Twitter too?

Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 13:36:16
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam: Its also incredibly sad that the girls who are doing it don't even see what they are doing.

^^^^ THIS ^^^^



This is why these things still happen -- It's a lack of awareness. I know we are all guilty of not realizing things from time to time, it just a human nature thing. That said when it is pointed out at least for myself, I try to reflect upon it.


Yeah, Aaryn not so much on the reflecting - She's been told about it is subtle and not so subtle ways but still is clueless. Her hatefulness is just making a pretty girl look very, very ugly.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 13:37:31
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning


I love those kids!


I think I'm the only one that watches Big Brother but I think this kind of ties in with today's blog in its context of empathy and racism Big Brother Becomes Lab Experiment in Overt Racism I generally like to watch the show for the stupid drama and to watch how people interact with each other, but I was not prepared for this season. Julie Chen is also not happy about this, she hosts the show. She's made some pointed comments that seem to fly over some contestants heads during live interviews. I kind of can't wait till she gets to do the exit interview with some of these people.

Interesting that the bigots names are "Aaryn" (which is almost Aryan) and "Zimmerman"



You know I wondered about Aaryn's name too - haven't heard a word from her parents. Didn't even know GinaMarie's last name until recently


Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 13:44:04
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Mondo -- did you watch Sharknado?



YES! It was teh awesome!



Did you follow it on Twitter too?



I had the total experience. The best tweet was something along the lines of waiting for the big Sharknado- Jetnado production number for the finale.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 13:46:55
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Mondo -- did you watch Sharknado?



YES! It was teh awesome!



Did you follow it on Twitter too?



I had the total experience. The best tweet was something along the lines of waiting for the big Sharknado- Jetnado production number for the finale.



That's a good one XD Might happen in Sharknado 2 - Taking A Bite of the BiG Apple

Comment by BobR on 07/19/2013 13:55:06
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Mondo -- did you watch Sharknado?



YES! It was teh awesome!



Did you follow it on Twitter too?



I had the total experience. The best tweet was something along the lines of waiting for the big Sharknado- Jetnado production number for the finale.



That's a good one XD Might happen in Sharknado 2 - Taking A Bite of the BiG Apple

Sharknado 2 - With Frikkin' Laser Beams!

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 13:56:19
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Mondo -- did you watch Sharknado?



YES! It was teh awesome!



Did you follow it on Twitter too?



I had the total experience. The best tweet was something along the lines of waiting for the big Sharknado- Jetnado production number for the finale.



That's a good one XD Might happen in Sharknado 2 - Taking A Bite of the BiG Apple

Sharknado 2 - With Frikkin' Laser Beams!



I can only hope!

Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 13:56:53
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Mondo -- did you watch Sharknado?



YES! It was teh awesome!



Did you follow it on Twitter too?



I had the total experience. The best tweet was something along the lines of waiting for the big Sharknado- Jetnado production number for the finale.



That's a good one XD Might happen in Sharknado 2 - Taking A Bite of the BiG Apple

Sharknado 2 - With Frikkin' Laser Beams!


That would be so awesome my head would explode!


Comment by Raine on 07/19/2013 13:59:33
Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 14:03:32


That would be an example of HOA over-reach

Comment by Raine on 07/19/2013 14:04:48
Quote by trojanrabbit:
For the first time in its 40 year operating history Plymouth's Pilgrim Nuclear Plant forced to throttle back to 85% power because the cooling water from Cape Cod Bay is too warm.

Nope.....no problem....
That is incredible -- and scary.


ETA: is this a reason for concern up there?
Meanwhile, Pilgrim officials declared the “unusual event” – related to Monday's failure of the control room alarms, known as annunciators – terminated just before midnight Tuesday.

“The exact cause of the annunciator failure has not yet been identified,” Sheehan said.

“We will continue to evaluate Entergy's efforts to identify the root cause. Meanwhile the system has been checked and tested and is currently functioning properly.”



Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 14:11:48


We hatesss them as well. They are just awful. I do however like the gated trailer park here in Jville. Yes, a gated trailer park, let that sink in.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 07/19/2013 14:23:56
Quote by Raine:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
For the first time in its 40 year operating history Plymouth's Pilgrim Nuclear Plant forced to throttle back to 85% power because the cooling water from Cape Cod Bay is too warm.

Nope.....no problem....
That is incredible -- and scary.


ETA: is this a reason for concern up there?
Meanwhile, Pilgrim officials declared the “unusual event” – related to Monday's failure of the control room alarms, known as annunciators – terminated just before midnight Tuesday.

“The exact cause of the annunciator failure has not yet been identified,” Sheehan said.

“We will continue to evaluate Entergy's efforts to identify the root cause. Meanwhile the system has been checked and tested and is currently functioning properly.”


Well, 40 years ago no one thought it would be this warm....
"Nobody ever predicted the water temperatures would go up this high in the Northeast when the plants were designed in the 1960s," said Sheehan.


Hey, the place is 40 years old, so some lights or alarms don't work. Big deal. Yeah, it's a concern, just don't know enough about what backups exist, test protocols etc to say whether I should be wetting my pants over it. I'm not sure what Pilgrim's design life is. That would be more worrisome.

Actually I'm surprised we haven't heard about brownouts or people being asked to cut down on AC use. Supposed to hit 100 in Boston today.

Comment by Raine on 07/19/2013 14:29:08
Quote by Mondobubba:


We hatesss them as well. They are just awful. I do however like the gated trailer park here in Jville. Yes, a gated trailer park, let that sink in.
I just googled Gated Trailer parks Florida and they seem to be quite popular.




Comment by BobR on 07/19/2013 14:50:09
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:


We hatesss them as well. They are just awful. I do however like the gated trailer park here in Jville. Yes, a gated trailer park, let that sink in.
I just googled Gated Trailer parks Florida and they seem to be quite popular.

Welcome to Shanty Acres...

Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/19/2013 14:54:53
Raine, we need more empathy and compassion than ever. I define compassion as empathy in action. Many people are compassionate, but some now see it as cool to be sarcastic, cruel and self-centered. In some ways, it reminds me of what the Poetic Edda predicted about the world just prior to Ragnarok, the Norse version of the end of the world.

Brothers will fight
and kill each other,
sisters' children
will defile kinship.
It is harsh in the world,
whoredom rife
—an axe age, a sword age
—shields are riven—
a wind age, a wolf age—
before the world goes headlong.
No man will have
mercy on another.


Why do I think Ted Nugent and some others long for this sort of a world?

Now for the local bad news, courtesy of the Chicago Tribune. Let me thank Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and his school board once again --- for lowering my hopes for a teaching job without having to move hundreds of miles away.

CPS lays off more than 2,000, including 1,000 teachers
Latest round follows 855 job cuts last month


By Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah and Kim Geiger, Chicago Tribune reporters

6:34 a.m. CDT, July 19, 2013

Citing a $1 billion budget deficit, Chicago Public Schools will lay off more than 2,000 employees, more than 1,000 of them teachers, the district said Thursday night.

About half of the 1,036 teachers being let go are tenured. The latest layoffs, which also include 1,077 school staff members, are in addition to 855 employees — including 420 teachers — who were laid off last month as a result of the district's decision to close 49 elementary schools and a high school program.

CPS spokeswoman Becky Carroll said the district was "scraping the bottom" of reserves to provide financial relief and had made cuts in other spending before making layoffs.

"We're not going to be able to cut our way out of this crisis," Carroll said. "Our revenues are simply not keeping in line with our spending increases."

The district again blamed the lack of pension reform for many of its fiscal woes, noting that pension payments are growing this fiscal year by an additional $400 million. The layoffs were the result of "budgetary decisions made by principals or changes in enrollment," the district said in a statement.


Yes, I am checking in Northern Virginia and Massachusetts, but no responses yet. I do have a person to talk to about online teaching who knows a friend from Temple. It did not help that a friend whom I am babysitting for today said that my teaching career is over. We will see. I still have hopes for a few things, but I will get by one way or another.



Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/19/2013 15:03:41
A lot of the comments on the Chicago Tribune article make me want to leave the MidWest. Too many ignorant people who are instant experts. Very little blame for the politicians of both parties who spent decades not funding pensions.

Comment by BobR on 07/19/2013 15:10:54
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Yes, I am checking in Northern Virginia and Massachusetts, but no responses yet. I do have a person to talk to about online teaching who knows a friend from Temple. It did not help that a friend whom I am babysitting for today said that my teaching career is over. We will see. I still have hopes for a few things, but I will get by one way or another.

your teaching career is over? What is that all about?

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 15:19:45
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:


We hatesss them as well. They are just awful. I do however like the gated trailer park here in Jville. Yes, a gated trailer park, let that sink in.
I just googled Gated Trailer parks Florida and they seem to be quite popular.





My guess is they are A Thing to keep the riff-raff in.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 15:29:12
Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/19/2013 15:31:39
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Yes, I am checking in Northern Virginia and Massachusetts, but no responses yet. I do have a person to talk to about online teaching who knows a friend from Temple. It did not help that a friend whom I am babysitting for today said that my teaching career is over. We will see. I still have hopes for a few things, but I will get by one way or another.

your teaching career is over? What is that all about?


My friend is a bit of a pessimist. I am not yet ready to quit, but if I have no luck by the start of the school year, I will meet with counselors.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 15:56:41
why the Comic Con hate? I still want to go one day (granted I'll probably be the only 80 year old there, but still)

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 15:59:25
Quote by wickedpam:
why the Comic Con hate? I still want to go one day (granted I'll probably be the only 80 year old there, but still)



Chris or Mamma? Surely not Jim!

Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/19/2013 16:01:07
Quote by Mondobubba:
WTF?? Really? Still?



Prejudice dies hard.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 16:05:22
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by Mondobubba:
WTF?? Really? Still?



Prejudice dies hard.



Not so much prejudice, but just stupid.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 16:08:27
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
why the Comic Con hate? I still want to go one day (granted I'll probably be the only 80 year old there, but still)



Chris or Mamma? Surely not Jim!


both, I understand Chris's dislike since he hates swords and elves. Just seems like they are looking down their noses at Fanboys and FanGirls


Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/19/2013 16:12:13
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by Mondobubba:
WTF?? Really? Still?



Prejudice dies hard.



Not so much prejudice, but just stupid.


From the German poet, playwright , historian and dramatist Johann Christoph Friedrich Schiller:

Folly, thou conquerest, and I must yield!
Against stupidity the very gods
Themselves contend in vain. Exalted reason,
Resplendent daughter of the head divine,
Wise foundress of the system of the world,
Guide of the stars, who art thou then if thou,
Bound to the tail of folly's uncurbed steed,
Must, vainly shrieking with the drunken crowd,
Eyes open, plunge down headlong in the abyss.
Accursed, who striveth after noble ends,
And with deliberate wisdom forms his plans!
To the fool-king belongs the world.


Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 16:16:43
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
why the Comic Con hate? I still want to go one day (granted I'll probably be the only 80 year old there, but still)



Chris or Mamma? Surely not Jim!


both, I understand Chris's dislike since he hates swords and elves. Just seems like they are looking down their noses at Fanboys and FanGirls



Hurmph!

Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/19/2013 16:39:01
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
why the Comic Con hate? I still want to go one day (granted I'll probably be the only 80 year old there, but still)



Chris or Mamma? Surely not Jim!


both, I understand Chris's dislike since he hates swords and elves. Just seems like they are looking down their noses at Fanboys and FanGirls



Hurmph!



We can all look down at various things. It is very easy to look down at much of our popular culture, but it seems to mostly be about people exerting their own sense of superiority.

Comment by Raine on 07/19/2013 17:24:18
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by Mondobubba:
WTF?? Really? Still?



Prejudice dies hard.



Not so much prejudice, but just stupid.
I recommend people wtch this documentary about it. It was amazing and so sad. Bad Blood


Comment by Raine on 07/19/2013 17:39:10
Party Shopping done... time to start making the baked beans and Hummus.


Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 17:46:00


I so want to see Much Ado - its my fave Shakespeare play


Comment by Mondobubba on 07/19/2013 18:13:03
My coworker on homophobia: "Phobia is being afraid of something, hating gay people just makes you an asshole."

Comment by wickedpam on 07/19/2013 18:22:00
That's cute, one of my suppliers thinks a 20000 Kilobyte file too big to email too me.